Vibrator



Aug. 22, 1950 u. s. JAMES ErAL VIBRATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1946 m -www Aug 22, 1950 u. s. JAMES E rAL 2,519,374

VVIBRAToR l S sheets-sheet 2 Filed June l0, 1946 Aug. 22, 1950 u. s. JAMES rAL 2,519,374

VIBRATOR Filed June 10, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug' 22, 1950 u. s JAMES ETAL 2,519,374

VIBRATOR Filed June 1o, 194e Y 5 sheets-sheet 4 Aug. 22, 1950 u. s. JAMES ErAL VIBRATOR 5 Sheets-Shea?l 5 Filed June l0, 1946 Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VIBRATOR Ulysses S. James, J r.

Application June 10, 1946, Serial No. 675,564

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a vibrator for reciprocating a surface to effect the advance of materials thereover, and it relates more specifically to vibrators for concentrating tables for effecting the wet separation of materials of different specic gravities, such as minerals from other constituents of ores. y

In separating minerals from ores by the wet method, the ore is pulverized to a greater or lesser degree, depending upon the natural characteristics of the ore and of the mineral to be extracted. The pulverized ore is mixed with water and deposited upon a concentrating table where the heavier mineral portions settle to the bottomv by gravity, and from which the settled particles are removed by a vibratory motion imparted to the table.

When the ore is reduced to a substantially imto provide novel means for imparting to a concentrating table dierential strokes having characteristics which enable low grade ores or slimes to be separated with such efficiency as to yield a high percentage of recovery of mineral.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vibrator of the type mentioned having means for adjusting it to vary the characteristics of the strokes imparted to the concentrating table ac cording to differing kinds or conditions of the ores or other materials to be separated, and thereby attain a high recovery of minerals or other valuable constituents.

Another object is to provide a vibrator of novel construction for imparting to a concentrating table differential strokes for effecting the separation of coarse particles of minerals or other constituents from ore or other material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel vibrator which is capable of being adjusted and operated to eifect high eiciency recovery of ne particles of the valuable constituents from ore slimes, or coarse particles from ore sands or other material.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a vibrator as mentioned, means whereby both Whereas the coarser ground ore is the length of the strokes and the characteristics of the same may be readily and minutely adjusted to suit the various conditions and qualities of the.

material to be operated upon in order to recover a high percentage of the mineral therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel self aligning and automatic take-up connection between the vibrator mechanism and the separating table. v

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view the invention consists generally in a separating table, and resilient means constantly tending to move the table in one direction, in combination with means for imparting a desired variable retractive movement to the table, and for controlling the movement imparted by the rst mentionel means, so as to impart the desired characteristics to the motion of the table in both directions..

More specifically the device embodying the present invention comprises a main frame or casing, a vibratory yoke mounted for reciprocation in saidv casing, ,a toggle interposed between said casing and said yoke for imparting motion to the latter, a cam face on one link of the toggle, a rotary eccentric member engaging said cam face to actuate said toggle, and a connection between said yoke and a concentrating table for the mau terial to be separated.

The outer ends of the toggle levers or links are seated in bearing blocks adjustably mounted on the frame and yoke respectively. The aforesaid cam is on the link which is seated upon the frame, and the seat is so positioned that any adjustment thereof will vary the relative position of the cam with relation to the rotary actuating member, thereby varying the characteristics of the motion imparted to the yoke and table.

The bearing block on the yoke is arranged for adjustment in a path at an angle to the perpendicular, and adjustment of said block varies the length of the stroke or movement of the yoke and table,

These two adjustments are each practically innite within limits, so that infinite and minute variations may be made, both in the length of the stroke or movement of the table, and also the characteristics of the stroke, according to the type and quality of the material being treated, in order to obtain the most eflicient separation.

The proper characteristics of the motion-im-v parted to the table is desirable at all times, but is frequently of vital importance when treating slimes containing certain minerals in minute particles or of close specific gravities; a very slight change in the characteristics of the motion often changing an unprotable, low percentage recovery into a high percentage and protable one.

The invention further consists in other nove1 features and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the vibrator with the cover plate removed,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustrated upon an enlarged scale,

Fig. 4 is a similar View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, also upon an enlarged scale,

Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating various adjustments of the toggle seats with resultant movements imparted to the yoke,

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the characteristics of the motion imparted to the yoke and table, and

Fig. ll is a plot illustrating the variations in the characteristics imparted to the motion due to adjustment of the cam seat.

Fig. l2 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but with parts omitted to show the shape of the bearing in the bearing block.

Referring to the drawings, 2| indicates the main frame or casing of the device. This comprises a bottom 22, sides 23, and ends 24 and 25 respectively. The bottom of the casing is formed with a central, longitudinally disposed sump or well 26 which is spanned, intermediate its ends by a bar 21 in the plane of the bottom 22. The

end 25, of the vibrator casing, which is adjacent the concentrating table will be designated as the r'ear end, and the opposite end 24 as the forward end. At the rear end of the well 26 is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined guideway 28 for a bearing block 29, which will be more fully described hereinafter. The guideway 28 extends downwardly to a stop flange 30 on the rear wall of the well, and upwardly to an upper stop ange 3| considerably above the bottom of 22 of the casing.

Slidably mounted on the bottom 22, between longitudinally disposed lateral guides 33, preferably integral with the casing, is a yoke 34. This comprises a pair of longitudinally disposed side bars 35, an upwardly arched transverse member 3S connecting the rear ends of said bars, and a connecting member 31 adjacent the forward ends. of the bars. The member 31 is formed to include a guide 38 similar to the guide 28 which forms an integral part of the casing as above described, but inclined upwardly and forwardly. The lower portion of the guide member 31 extends downwardly into the well or sump 26 and is provided at the lower end with a stop flange 39 for a sliding block 40, and at the upper end is formed with a stop flange 4|.

The arched rear member 3E of the yoke is provided with a threaded bore 42 to receive the threaded end 43 of a draw bar 44, which draw bar is connected in a manner hereinafter described, to a concentrating table 45. Above the bore 42, the arch member is split, as at 46 forming jawsY 41, and a bolt` 48 extending through said jaws Cil 4 clamps the draw bar securely in adjusted position.

To move the table in one direction, that is rearwardly in the form illustrated, a pair of helical springs 49 are provided, one upon each side of the yoke 34, and said springs are interposed between abutments 50 on the yoke and a spring compression plate 5| located in the forward end of the casing 2|. A spring compression screw 52 is threaded centrally through the plate 5| and impinges against the wall 24. Spring guides 53 are provided within the springs. These each comprise a bar, cruciform in cross section for the major portion of its length, and having cylindrical head 54 terminating in a rounded or semispherical end 55. The forward ends 55 of the guides are reduced in diameter and are seated' in holes provided for them in the adjacent ends of the plate 5|. Guide pins 51 hold the ends 56 of the bars securely in the compression plate and extend upwardly above the plate to engage the edges of longitudinally disposed guide flanges 58 on the inner faces of the side walls of the casing, to properly center the plate 5| and said flanges engage the top of the plate 5| and thereby prevent it from rising and thus throwing the springs out of alignment with the yoke. It should be noted that this construction also constitutes an equalizer for the springs, so that uniform pressure is constantly applied to both sides of the recprocatory yoke.

Interposed between the bearing block 29 supported in the main frame or casing 2| and the bearing block 40 mounted on the vibratory yoke 34., is a toggle consisting of a cam lever 58, and an associated lever or link 60 hingedly connected therewith by a knuckle joint 6|.

The cam lever 59 is of integral construction and comprises a pair of parallel arms 62--62 having semi-cyclindrical journals 63 at one end and cam faces 64 on their upper edges at the opposite ends from the journals. A transverse member 65 connects the cam ends of the arms below the level ofthe cam faces, and a transverse member 66, substantiallyy flush with the upper edges of the arms, spans the space between them adjacent the journal end. Extending between the journals 63 and concentric therewith is aA cylindrical element 61. The member 65 is provided with a bearing E8 forming a part of the knuckle joint 5|. The link 6 0 is preferably a straight ilat bar provided at its ends with semi-cylindrical journals 69 and 18, respectively.

The journals 63 of the cam lever are seated in bearings 1I in the adjustable block 29, and the journal 10 of the link 60 is seated in like bearings in the block 40.

A U-shaped leaf spring 13, having a short arm i4 and a long arm 15, is arranged with the bent portion extending around the cylindrical element 6,1 of the cam lever, and withV the short arm 14 bearing against a flange or rib 1,6' on the under face of the transverse member ES and is bent upwardly Vto engage the forward edge thereof and thereby maintain the intermediate portion of the spring in. close engagement with the cylindrical element 61. The longer arm 15 of the spring is bent downwardly adjacent its end, and curved as at 11 to engage and ride upon the upper face of the bai: 2-1 of the casing. The spring 13 is quick loading and itv tends to constantly force the knuckle 6| upwardly, it being heavily loaded when the toggle members are in nearly a straight line and .tending to. breakk the, toggle at which time the springs 49l act with their least effectiveness t0 break the toggle. By this construction and arrangement of the spring, no variation in the compression thereof will occur when the bearing block is raised or lowered for adjustment as will be described hereinafter.

Mounted in .bearings 1B on the sides 23 of the casing, is a shaft 19, having a crank or eccentric journal 8B positioned above the cam faces 64, and carrying a roller 8| which includes a pair of spaced cylindrical portions 82--82 with which the cam faces 64-64 are constantly held in engagement by the leaf spring 13, or by the coil springs 49.

The roller 8| is divided longitudinally into two similar halves bolted together in place to facilitate assemblage on the eccentric portion of the shaft. Each of said halves includes half of each of the cam engaging portions 82--82 connected at their ends by bars 83, and intermediate the ends by bars 84, the inner surfaces of said bars 83 and 84 constituting portions of the bearings of the roller on the eccentric. Bolts 85 extend through the bars 83 to secure the roller sections together. The bars 83 and 84 being spaced apart affords means whereby lubricant may readily reach the bearings.

When the mechanism is in a stable position of rest the center of the eccentric 80, and hence of the roller 8|, is on the side of the axis of the shaft diametrically opposite the point of contact of the roller with the cam. This point of contact when the cam lever bearing is at the highest point of adjustment, as will be described hereinafter, is indicated at 86. In this position the toggle is raised or flexed to its greatest height by the pressure of the springs 13 and 49.

From this position any rotation of the shaft will depress or straighten the toggle and move the yoke 34 and table 45 against the pressure of the springs until the center of the eccentric 80 and roller 8| lies directly between the axis of the shaft and the point of contact of the roller with the cam. Further rotation again permits the springs 49 to move the yoke in reverse direction; but this movement is controlled by the engagement of the cam 84 with the roller 8|.

It is therefore obvious that the characteristics of the movements of the yoke and table are determined by the character or shape of the cam 64, together with the initial position of the cam with relation to the shaft 19 and to the plane of movement of the yoke. In the wet treatment of finely pulverized ores, and particularly those of a complex nature, the characteristics of these movements are vital to the highest efficiency of the device.

Such motions as are found desirable may be attained in a construction above described, by means of the improved cam forming a part of this invention, and the means hereinafter described for adjusting the same.

As shown in the drawings the cam face 64 curves upwardly as at 81 from substantially the contact point 86 and toward the pivoted end of the cam lever, and extends straight as at 88 in the opposite direction in a plane tangential to the curve of the portion 81. Preferably, the plane of the straight portion 88 lies parallel to a plane intersecting the center of the roller 8| and the pivotal axis of the cam lever 59 while said roller is in contcat with said straight portion, and the curved portion 81 is struck as a center from a point in a line intersecting the centers of the shaft 19 and said roller and the point of contact of said roller with said straight portion while the latter is closest to the center of Said shaft, and

has a radius .equal to the diameter of the roller;

.but the radius of this curved portion 81 may be made greater or less than the diameter of the roller 8|, according t0 the maximum sharpness as well as a similar movement when the cam lever bearing block 29 is at a lower point of adjustment, so as to graphically show the differences in the characteristics of the motion attained by simply adjusting the pivot point of the lever and consequently the initial position of the lever with relation to the eccentric and to the plane of movement of the yoke.

As shown in Fig. 10, the circle 89 indicates the throw of the eccentric. This is divided into twelve equally positioned stations indicated by the letters a. b. c. d., etc., the station a being shown initially as diametrically opposite to the contact point 86 ofthe cam and roller. With each of said stations as a center, and assuming the ro, tation to be in the direction of the arrow X, dotted circles are delineated showing the position of the roller when its center is at each station,

together with the corresponding positions of the where the horizontal line Z indicates the planer of the movement of the bearing 10. The vertical lines extending above the line Z indicate the stages on the downward movement of the cam,

and those extending downwardly, the position on the upward movement thereof. I

All of these positions are plotted in Fig. 11, the arrow heads in said figure indicating the direction of movement of the bearing, and therefore of the yoke and concentrating table. The dotted curved line in this figure depicts the movement when the block 29 is adjusted to a lower position than that shown in Fig. 10.

It will be apparent that as the pivot 63 of the cam lever is lowered the angle of the straight portion 88 of the cam to horizontal will be increased and that the point of contact of the roller 8| therewith, when in the stable position of rest as above described, is shifted toward the end or toe of the lever and further from the curved portion 81 of the cam, so that a greater portion of the movement of the yoke and table is controlled by the straight portion of the cam and less by the curved portion. This shift will be apparent by comparing Figs. 6 and 7.

In separating the ne particles of mineral from the slime, the jar incident to a too sudden change from the retractive movement to the opposite movement of the table, or a too rapid movement toward the discharge position will tend to vibrate the settled particles back into suspension in the water or carrying medium; whereas a gentle change in the reversal of movement will permit the particles to settle on the deck of the table, and a sudden reversal at the discharge end of the stroke will then draw the table from beneath the settled particles and produce a proper and high percentage discharge of the valuable constituents.

Theopposite is the case with coarser materials, or sands, as the coarser and heavier particles will not be so readily driven back into suspension. Therefore in treating such materials a reversal of' 9 binding or straining between the link and the table. This also applies to the pivotal connection of the link with the draw bar head |08.

It is also obvio-us that any wear of the parts will be constantly taken up by the tapered elements H6 and |21, these elements adjusting themselves under the influence of gravity, and the angle1 of taper being su'iciently small to overcome forces tending to squeeze them out of position. Consequently, both the length of the stroke imparted to the yoke 34, and the characteristics of said stroke will be communicated t the table without any variation whatever.

A fly-wheel |38 is clamped or otherwise xed on the shaft 19 to provide uniformity of speed of rotation thereof during each revolution, and to cause the vibrator to operate smoothly, and the vibrator may be driven conveniently from an electric motor or other source of power which may be belted to the fly-wheel.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a support, a yoke mounted for reciproca-tion on said support, a toggle interposed between said support and said yoke, a cam surface on one link of said toggle, a rotary eccentric engaging said cam surface, said cam surface comprising a curved portion extending in one direction from approximately the point of contact of said eccentric with the cam when the center of rotation of the eccentric is closest to the cam, and a fiat surface tangential to said curved portion and extending in the opposite direction from said point of contact, and means for connecting said yoke to a concentrating table.

2. In a device of the class described, a support, a reciprocatory member on said support, a toggle interposed between said support and said member, a, cam face on one element of said toggle, a rotary eccentric engaging said cam, said cam comprising a straight portion on one side of said eccentric and a curved portion on the other side of said eccentric, and means for adjusting the cam bearing toggle element to vary the angular position of the straight portion of the cam with relation to the eccentric.

3. In a device of the class described, a support, a reciprocatory member on said support, a toggle comprising a, pair of links, a cam on one of said links, a journal on the cam bearing link, a seat on said support for said journal, a seat on the reciproc-atory member for the other link, a rotary eccentric engaging said cam, said cam having a straight portion lying substantially in a plane parallel with a plane common to the center of said eccentric and the axis of said journal while the eccentric engages said straight portion, and a curved portion tangent to said straight portion.

4. In a device of the class described, a support, a reciprocatory member on said support, a toggle comprising a pair of links, a cam on one of said links, a journal 0n the cam bearing link, a seat on said support for said journal, a seat on the reciprocatory member for the other link, a rotary eccentric engaging said cam, said cam having a straight portion in a plane parallel with a plane common to the center of said eccentric and the axis of said journal, and a curved portion tangent to said straight portion and having a radius substantially equal to the diameter of the eccentric.

5. In a separator head motor, a rotary eccentric in combination with a lever having a pivotal mounting at one end and a cam on the other end actuated by said eccentric, said ca'm havingr a straight Outer end portion in a plane parallel with a plane common to the center of said eccentric and the axis of said pivotal mounting, and a curved portion tangential to said straight portion and struck as a center froml a point substantially in a line intersecting the center of the eccentric and its axis of rotation and the point of contact of the eccentric with said straight portion while the latter is closest to the axis of rotation of the eccentric.

6. In a device of the class described, a support, an eccentric mounted on said support and adapted to be rotated in either direction, an angularly positioned guideway on said support, a bearing member adjustably mounted on said guideway, a reciprocatable member on said support, a toggle interposed between said bearing member and said reciprocatable member, and a cam on the toggle element engaging said bearing member, said cam comprising a straight outer portion and curved inner portion tangent to said straight portion, and means for connecting a separating table to said reciprocatable member.

7. In a device of the class described, a support, an eccentric rotatably mounted on said support, a reciprocatory member 0n said support; an inclined guideway on said support, a bearing block adjustably mounted on said guideway, a toggle comprising a link having one end journaled in said bearing block and an associated link having bearings on said reciprocatory member, a cam on the iirst said link and a spring `for maintaining said cam in engagement with said eccentric, said spring being U-shaped with its bent portion arranged about the journaled end of the cam lever and the free ends engaging under said lever and on said support, respectivey, whereby adjustment of said bearing block will not vary the loading of said spring.

8. A vibrator for imparting differential reciprocatory motion to a surface for advancing material thereover, comprising a support, a toggle embodying pivotally connected members one of which has a bearing on the support and the other having means for imparting motion to said surface, an eccentric, and a cam on one of the toggle members having a curved portion extending in one direction from the point of Contact of the eccentric with the cam when the center of rotation of the eccentric is closest to the cam, and having a straight portion tangential to said curved portion at said point of contact and extending in the opposite direction therefrom.

9. A vibrator as dened in claim 8, including means for varying the angular position of said .cam relatively to said eccentric.

10. A vibrator comprising a support, a shaft mounted rotatably therein and provided with an eccentric, a cam lever pivotally mounted in the support and having a cam surface thereon engaging the eccentric, said cam surface having a curved portion extending in one direction from the point of contact of the eccentric with the cam when the center of rotation of the eccentric is closest to the cam, and having a straight portion tangential to said curved portion at said point 0i contact and extending in the opposite direction therefrom, and means for transmitting vibratory motion from said cam lever to the structure to be vibrated.

11. A vibrator as dened in claim 10, including means for adjusting the angular relation between said cam lever and eccentric in the plane of rotation of the eccentric.

12. A vibrator comprising, in combination, a support, a reciprocatory member mounted on the support and having means for connecting it to a structure to be vibrated, a rotatable eccentric mounted on the support, a toggle comprising a pair of links having a pivotal connection between them at a point intermediately of the length of the toggle, one of said links having a cam surface thereon engaged by the eccentric, bearings pivotally engaged by the remote ends of the toggle links, and guides on the support and reciprocatory member respectively along which the respective bearings are independently adjustable, said guides converging from Opposite sides toward a plane transverse to the direction of reciprocatio-n of said Eecutri of the Estate of Ulysses S. James, 2

Deceased.

ULYSSES S. JAMES, JR.

12 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record `in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 56,760 Campbell July 31, 1866 122,715 Fish Jan. 16, 1872 475,358 Sweet May 24, 1892 635,372 Dodd Oct. 24, 1899 1,089,633 Franz Mar. 10, 1914 1,163,345 Isbell Dec. 7, 1915 2,027,873 Nall Jan. 14, 1936 2,328,849 Schoelm Sept. 7, 1943 2,358,876 Overstrom Sept. 26, 1944 2,401,814 Burhans June 1l, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 566,401 Germany Dec. 1, 1932 

